A/RES/51/149 Page 4 Mine Clearance,9 and takes note with interest of the proposals contained therein; 2. Welcomes, in particular, the efforts made by the United Nations to foster the establishment of mine-clearance capacities in countries where mines constitute a serious threat to the safety, health and lives of the local population, and emphasizing the importance of developing national mineclearance capacities, urges all Member States, particularly those that have a capacity to do so, to assist afflicted countries in the establishment and development of their national mine-clearance capacities; 3. Invites Member States to develop national programmes, in cooperation with the relevant bodies of the United Nations system where appropriate, to promote awareness of landmines, especially among children; 4. Expresses its appreciation to Member States and regional organizations for their financial contributions to the Trust Fund, and appeals to them to continue this support through further contributions; 5. Encourages all relevant multilateral and national programmes and bodies to include, in coordination with the United Nations, activities related to mine clearance in their humanitarian, social and economic assistance activities; 6. Stresses the importance of international assistance for the rehabilitation of landmine victims and their full participation in society; 7. Emphasizes again, in this connection, the importance of effective coordination by the United Nations of activities related to mine clearance, including those by regional organizations, in particular activities related to standards, technological development, information and training; 8. Welcomes the efforts of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs to coordinate mine-related activities and, in particular, the establishment, in cooperation with other relevant United Nations organizations, of comprehensive mine-action programmes, and encourages the Department to continue and enhance those efforts with a view to improving the effectiveness of assistance in mine clearance by the United Nations; 9. Also welcomes the designation of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs, the focal point in the United Nations for coordinating humanitarian demining and related issues, as the repository of information and for encouraging and facilitating international research to improve mine-clearance methods; 10. Urges Member States, regional organizations, governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations to continue to extend full assistance and cooperation to the Secretary-General and, in particular, to provide him with information and data as well as other appropriate resources that could be useful in strengthening the coordination role of the United Nations in the field of mine awareness, training, surveying, mine detection and clearance, scientific research on mine-detection and clearance technology, and information on and distribution of medical equipment and supplies; 9 A/51/540. /...